Avenue A bar Jake’s in Turners on sales block

TURNERS FALLS — Jake’s is up for sale. If you haven’t been in, Jake’s Tavern is the low stone building with Christmas lights and a courtyard on Avenue A. If you have, you might have won a live lobster.

The bar and restaurant holds Friday meat and lobster raffles, among its distinguishing characteristics. Owner Bill Holbrook, 56, of Greenfield said he’s decided it’s time to retire or semi-retire and spend a little more time playing golf after 40 years in the restaurant business and 13 running the bar.

Holbrook bought the former D.J. Baron’s bar in 2001 and renamed it for his son. Since then he’s expanded the food focus, regularly hosted benefits for community causes and, he said, doubled sales.

“It’s a good small town America bar. Our regulars are what we’re all about, and it’s been a good business. To be honest, you’ve just got to work a lot of hours to make something like that go,” Holbrook said.

Holbrook is listing the business and building with Mark Abramson at Cohn and Company Real Estate Agency in Greenfield.